Provide facilities for new colleges: doctors' forum

From http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/10/stories/2006071007830500.htm

Provide facilities for new colleges: doctors' forum

Staff Reporter

Says Government should meet norms prescribed by the Medical Council of India

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Many medical colleges lacking in infrastructure Association members complain about mismanagement at doctors' counselling for transfer Casualty medical officers in many hospitals insufficient to meet patients' requirements Ramanathapuram: The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors' Association has urged the Government to provide stipulated infrastructure in all medical colleges before establishing new medical colleges. Speaking to mediapersons after the state executive committee meeting of the association at Rameswaram near here, president K. Prakasam said though the TNGDA welcomed the policy announcement of the State Government to open at least one medical college for each district, priority should be given to fill all vacancies and creating necessary facilities. The norms prescribed by the Medical Council of India should be fully met. At present, many medical colleges functioned with insufficient facilities. Dr. Prakasam said association members had complained about some mismanagement at the doctors counselling for transfer held recently. The Government should ensure total transparency in the counselling and promotion scheme for doctors. Like in counselling for teachers, transfer orders should be given on the day of the counselling. This would help doctors to report for duty at the selected places very quickly. Moreover, it would avoid unnecessary delay. He said the Government should give priority to existing doctors in the proposed diploma in the National Board exam. The number of casualty medical officers in many headquarter hospitals and medical college hospitals was insufficient to meet the patients' requirements. Hence, the Association demanded that all headquarter and medical college hospitals should have at least six casualty medical officers. N. Muthurajan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors' Association, said most upgraded taluk hospitals functioned with one doctor, instead of four. Earlier, the meeting thanked the Government for its decision to abolish the contract system for government doctors. It also appreciated the Government's move to conduct diploma in the national board exam, which was equivalent to post graduate medical degrees.